Dad thought he had a cold but almost died after developing sepsis

Karl Goodere-Dale didn’t think he would live to see his young children grow up

A father who thought he was going to die after developing sepsis has helped launch a campaign warning patients about the signs of the potentially fatal infection.

Karl Goodere-Dale, of Beeston, thought he had a cold in February this year, but he was actually suffering from sepsis, which is a complication of an infection.

His wife Sarah woke him up after their daughter Rosa, who was then just two months old, woke up for a feed and she noticed that he seemed “disorientated”.

Minutes later the 36-year-old passed out and he was rushed the Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC), where he begged doctors not to let him die.

Karl, who is a teacher at NUAST, remembers little of what happened next but can recall arriving at the QMC.

He said: “I was bringing up blood, my temperature was all over the place, my blood pressure had dropped, my heart rate had rocketed – all those sorts of signs.“It was suggested I might have to be put in a coma in order to let my body have a chance to recover.

“What was going through my mind at the time was I wouldn’t see my wife and young family again.”

Karl, who is also dad to four-year-old Noah, spent around seven weeks in hospital, which was partly due to him suffering a collapsed lung.

Life is starting to return to normal for Karl – he suffered with post traumatic stress disorder, triggered by the sound of an ambulance siren, for a period – but he realises how lucky he is to be alive.

He said: “If she [Rosa] hadn’t have woken up for a feed I probably wouldn’t be here.

Karl Goodere-Dale didn’t think he would live to see his young children grow up

Karl Goodere-Dale didn’t think he would live to see his young children grow up

A father who thought he was going to die after developing sepsis has helped launch a campaign warning patients about the signs of the potentially fatal infection.

Karl Goodere-Dale, of Beeston, thought he had a cold in February this year, but he was actually suffering from sepsis, which is a complication of an infection.

His wife Sarah woke him up after their daughter Rosa, who was then just two months old, woke up for a feed and she noticed that he seemed “disorientated”.

Minutes later the 36-year-old passed out and he was rushed the Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC), where he begged doctors not to let him die.

Karl, who is a teacher at NUAST, remembers little of what happened next but can recall arriving at the QMC.

He said: “I was bringing up blood, my temperature was all over the place, my blood pressure had dropped, my heart rate had rocketed – all those sorts of signs.

Video Loading“It was suggested I might have to be put in a coma in order to let my body have a chance to recover.

“What was going through my mind at the time was I wouldn’t see my wife and young family again.”

Karl, who is also dad to four-year-old Noah, spent around seven weeks in hospital, which was partly due to him suffering a collapsed lung.

Life is starting to return to normal for Karl – he suffered with post traumatic stress disorder, triggered by the sound of an ambulance siren, for a period – but he realises how lucky he is to be alive.

He said: “If she [Rosa] hadn’t have woken up for a feed I probably wouldn’t be here.

“I was told I was only 10-15 minutes away [from dying] – quite surreal really.”Karl Goodere-Dale with Sally Wood, who is the trust’s sepsis lead nurseEmpowered by his experience, Karl has returned to the QMC to help launch a new sepsis information leaflet for patients.

The leaflet, which will be handed out to patients who visit the hospital’s emergency department, provides details about the signs of sepsis.

Early symptoms may include a high temperature or low body temperature, a fast heartbeat, fast breathing and chills and shivering.

Sally Wood, the trust’s sepsis lead nurse, created the leaflet after visiting Karl on one of the wards.

She told the Post it will be given to patients who present with an infection as part of a “safety net” against sepsis.

Sally said: “It’s very difficult for members of the public who don’t necessarily know the ins and outs if what defines ‘getting worse’.

“What this leaflet is about is providing really factual information about what to look out for.

“It’s not about scaremongering. We know that lots of people have infections all the time and a really small proportion have sepsis, and sepsis kills.”

Karl added: “I think the leaflet is a good idea. Information does need to be given out to both patients and relatives. It is important to understand it and are aware of what it is.

“I went through a real rollercoaster of emotions. I was glad that I was alive and grateful for the help I had and the swift way I was treated because without that I am certain, nothing else goes through my mind, I wouldn’t be here right now.

“Thanks to the team it means I can see my children grown up.”

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, which manages QMC and Nottingham City Hospital, say 91 percent of patients are screened for sepsis and see a critical care specialist in under three hours.

Their work will feature on Monday’s (September 11) episode of Panorama, which will be shown on BBC1 at 8.30pm.